BarefootLaw is a not for profit organisation which was created in 2012 to provide access to the law and legal information to undeserved communities in Uganda. Because of numerous factors including a very limited number of lawyers available for the population, high costs of legal services and a high population of illiterate and under and uneducated people, mistrust in the law and the justice system was so prevalent that instances of people taking the law into their own hands such as vigilantism and mob justice had become very common.
Behind the creation of BarefootLaw is that where people know have an understanding of the law and the legal processes available for resolving conflicts, people will not only utilise these processes, but act in ways that are less likely to get them involved in legal conflicts. If individuals can understand the law, they will be able to protect themselves, their families and communities as well as enforce their rights if infringed by another.
BarefootLaw uses technology as a means of disseminating legal information to the general public. Through developing websites as repositories of simplified legal information. With a monthly reach of over 450,000 people through the various platforms including websites, social media and SMS, BarefootLaw continues to expand its technological approaches in order to further it’s services.
BarefootLaw also uses innovative approaches to reach people who have not got access to technology. Although access to technology has increased phenomenally in Uganda in the last couple of years, there are still very many people who don’t have access to technology and many others who are illiterate or unable to use these technologies. With this in mind, BarefootLaw develops projects which directly reach these people and share the legal information with them in more appropriate methods such as by preparing and staging skits, by holding trainings and legal clinics among other things.